He Is Coming Soon!
Author
Miriam Carrasquillo
Summary: The disasters, epidemics, wars, and conflicts that frighten the world correspond to signs foretold in the Bible before the Second Coming. We should not react to them with alarm, but discern the times and remember that our salvation is drawing ever nearer. The Lord will fulfill His promise; His apparent delay expresses His patience and desire that no one should perish. Although we do not know the day or the hour, nor whether our death or Christ’s coming will occur first, we must be prepared. Let us examine and renew ourselves each day, asking for mercy so that we may be transformed and ready to meet Him, while His peace guards our hearts and minds.
I have heard people ask, with great fear and confusion, what is happening in the world. Recent natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, and tornadoes—which seem to be more frequent now than ever before
—as well as the various epidemics and diseases affecting a large portion of humanity; also wars, nuclear weapons, conflicts between nations... in short, countless events have much of humanity terrified.
The truth is that all these things had already been foretold, and they could be seen coming. The Bible is very explicit about the signs preceding the end, and it helps us understand when these things will occur. In Matthew 24, the Lord warns us by giving us a list of events that must take place before His Second Coming. Many of these recent events are the very picture of Matthew 24. We need only look around us, and we will realize that we are witnessing those signs.
My intention in presenting this is not to alarm you, but rather to encourage you to discern the times: “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37). Verses 32–33 of Matthew 24 tell us: “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that He is near, at the very doors.” The apostle Paul also tells us: “Knowing the time, it is already the hour for us to awaken from sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11).
The day of the Lord is drawing near, and the times confirm it. “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some consider it a delay, but is patient toward us, not wanting anyone to perish” (2 Peter 3:9). “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).
We do not know which will surprise us first, death or the coming of the Lord. What we must know for certain is that we are ready when the time comes for us to depart, because “of that day and hour no one knows...” (Matthew 24:36). I urge us to examine and renew ourselves each day, and if we find ourselves lacking in anything, let us ask the Lord, in His infinite mercy, to transform us and prepare us to meet Him.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)